I'm currently bow hunting near steamboat. I decided to check out an aspen glenn this afternoon for a possible morning hunt. I stopped to look around at the terrain and once finished I turned forward and BOOM there is lion 5 feet away ready to attack! I yelled "OH FU(k" it startled the lion and ran away. I had no time to grab my pistol, bear spray or knock an arrow. I was pretty close to the end there I think.
In high school, 5 of us were hiking back to luna lake where we were camping for the night just after dusk. Joking around with the 3 girls my buddy and I told them that the last one always gets eaten! Lol, saw some eyes 20 yds away in the woods, one girl was, "is that a deer?" Well we flashed our lights and she screamed so loud it scared the cat away. I still remember the hair on the back of my neck standing up! First cat i ever saw.
Always see some cool stuff out in the woods!
I didn't see a cat myself but a Few weeks ago, I was solo archery hunting near homestake reservoir here in Colorado.
I was walking through some shoulder high scrub brush along the edge of a small marsh shelf
I broke out into a small opening
Looked up to see a bull moose starring at me
We were maybe 10 feet apart
I had a disturbing bear encounter the day prior (black bear wouldn't get out of the road while I was driving my F350) so I was carrying a 12 gauge with me for peace of mind
Been treed by two moose in my life so bit moose skiddish but smoothly flipped shotgun off safe and said a few loud words
After a few seconds moose high tailed it away
I have a feeling they sneak up behind bowhunters all the time until they figure out what we are. That country (all of NoCo) is saturated with them. It's only by their choice that they don't eat someone every day...